Tank-indicator.



J. R. SMITH.

TANK INDICATOR.-

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 14,1908.

Patented May 3, 1910.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. SMITH, OF BRADFORD. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNGR TO ROBERT A. JORDAN,

TRUSTEE, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

TANK-IND ICATOB.

To all whom it may camera:

1 Be it known that I JOHN R. Sm'rn. of

Bradford. county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in 5 Tank-Indicators, of which the following is a s f ieciflcatirn.

his invention particularly relates to a device for indicating the depth of liquid in the gasolene tanks of automobiles or motor-boats, and has for its principal object the provision of an indicatin device which niav be readily applied to to cap of the filling opening of any tank, so that theformation of additional openings through the i walls of the tank is rendered unnecessary,

and which is sim la in construction, so that it may be .applie at small expense. I accomplish this object by the means shown in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a central sectional view of a Fig. 2'

tank provided with my invention.

is an elevation thereof and Fig. 3 is a cross section looking up on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. My invention is shown as applied to a tank a, of any form, which is provided with a screw cap through which the tank may be filled. Aecordin to my invention the screw cap b is provi ed with a central here into which a screw plug a is threaded, sai

80 plug having a head 0 which is adapted to seatagainst the inner side of the cap, so that, when the plug is screwed in place, leakage between the cap and plu will bedprevented. Said head a is preferably provi ed with a recess 0 in the end thereof, and with oppositely disposed notches 0 adjacent its periphery, so that the plug may be screwed into place, conveniently, with a suitable tool.

A guide tube (Z is fitted on the head 0 and rigidly secured thereto by any suitable means, said guide tube bein adapted to extend adjacent the bottom of the tank, when the cap I) is in place, and being rovided with a series of longitudinal slots. to permit free flow of the liquid to and from the same. The plug a is provided with a central bore a in which an indicator rod 0 isfitted to slide freely, said rod having a float f, of cork or other suitable material secured to the lower end thereof. A hea or nut g, which is of somewhat greater diameter than the rod 0, is adapted to be threaded onto the upper end of said rod, to prevent the rod from being withdrawn from said 5 5 plug.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 14, 1902. 8er1ll1i'o.457,81i.

Patented May'3,.1910.

The length or the threaded portion of the plug 0 is somewhat greater than the thickness of the ca 6, so that, when said plug is screwed in p see its end will protrude for a short distance above the up r or outer surface ofthe ca and a supp emental cap or on it is provi ed, which is ads ted to be threa ed onto'the protruding enoof said plu so that when it. is screwed in lace it I wil tightly close the upper end of t e bore 5 c, the upper end of the plug 0 being pro-- vided with a recesse to receive the nut 9, so that the bottom of the cap it may be seated against the end of theplug.

Normally the parts will be held in the po-- sition-shown in rig. 1, whetherthe tank is full or em ty the cup it holding the fioat f submerg if, however, it is desired to ascertain the depth of liquid in the tank, the cup k is merely unscrewed, liberating the r0 e, so that the float f may rise to the surface and lift the rod to a height corresponding to the depth ofthe liquid in the tank, said rod e-bein provided with aduations to indicate-the e th of the liqui as will be so obvious. After t e depth of the li aid has been ascertained the rod is pushed down in place and the cup 72. is screwed onto the plug again.

The longitudinal slots a are extended nearly the entire length of the guide tube d for t e special purpose .of permitting free escape of the liquid from the tube above the float, as the latter is permitted-to rise for, if such means of escape were not provid liquid would .be thrown or forced out through the bore a by the float as it is pressed up by the -1i%uifl.

' If it is desired to ll the tank the cap I) is unscrewed and the whole apparatus attached as thereto is removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to, secure by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a removable tankclosure having a passage therethrou h,'an indicator-rod mounted to slide in sai passage; and'having a float thereon of less diameter than the closure. and -means for limiting the movement of said rod with relation to said closure to revent disconnection thereof when the c osure is removed from the tank, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a removable tankclosure having a passage therethrough, a

ed, the 90- I 6 z fioat' indicator-rod mounted slide in said passage means for closing said passage and holding-said rod in depressed position; and inuans for limiting the movement' 'of said rod with relation to said closure toprevent;

disconnection thereof when the closiire' is re inoyed from the tank, substantially as de scribed} 3. In combination with aremovable tank-;

10 closure having a passage therethrough, an indicator-rod mounted to slide. insaid pas sage,;an d.ha v ing a float thereon of less diameter than the closure and means for Limiting (thelrnpvement of said rod in said passage to 1; prevent. withdrawal of.; the rod i'rom said ll ge when :th a sur i rem dmfi' the:tenkfisuh mnt l y e -iiescribed-i :1. 1 14- 1 1 ii ationzwifi i r mo ble t nkglosure having a, passage..thercthrough an.

indicat'orqod mountcdlo slide passage andhavinga, ref' 'aining head atitsouter end, and a float atits inner end ofless diameter the wlesu es eubstamiellyde 1.4

scribed. 1. w .5, i

Lw mujennim- 5. In combination 'with a tank-closure having a threaded aperture therethrough, and having a-sci-ew' plug threaded in said aperture provided With a head at its inner I, end and a longitudinal bore, an indicator- 'l'odniou'nted to slide in said bore, and a guiding device for said float connected to "said"head", Substantially as described.

: 6..In combination with a tank-closure having a plug extending thercthrough, said plug having a longitudinal bore, a float-indicator-rodunounted to slide in said bore, and,.;a cap .adaptcd to he threaded on the outer endof said plugto close said bore and hold said. rod in depressed position, substantially as described.

In testimony. whereof, I have signed my name to ,this' specification, in the presence of two subscrib ng w tnesses.

' JOHN R. SMITH. 

